With the winning of this past election, freedom of speech has been a big topic. The sensitivity of political correctness is a big issue that has been sweeping the nation the past couple of years, and recently. Donald Trump thought that it was a smart idea to ban specific words that he deemed “deeply disturbing and offensive.”

According to the Washington Post, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the CDC, was given a list of seven words that they were not allowed to use in any official documents. This list included the words “diversity. vulnerable, entitlement, fetus, science-based, transgender, and evidence-based.” When the CDC asked what words they were able to use instead, they were not presented with an answer, except for ‘science and evidence-based’, which they were told to use the phrase “CDC bases it recommendations on science in consideration with community standards and wishes.”

Now, some of you right-wing christian conservatives might be thinking, “Who cares?”

In case you needed a reminder, the Bill of Rights give us Freedom of the Press, which allows allows publications to speak on topics using any type of vocabulary we please. Forcing specific publications to refrain from using certain terms keeps the public from being informed, which is in this case could be dangerous to their health.

If Americans can’t get simple information about their own health programs, then we’re taking away their simple human rights.

The HHS has already removed the page that focuses on health issues that focuses on the LGBTQ+ community on their website. This page included adoption information and counseling after they have dealt with sex trafficking.

An analyst from the CDC said that words have never been banned from official reports just because they were seen as controversial. So why now in 2017, especially when we have been trying to be seen as a more open-minded country in the past 8 years?

On Sunday, December 18th, the head of the CDC replied with this news on Twitter saying that “there are no banned words here at the CDC. We will continue to talk about all important health programs.” But since the CDC is funded by the government, Brenda Fitzgerald has been put into a position that puts her integrity on the line.

Banning words that describe important groups that make up a wide variety of America when you’re dealing with an organization whose goal is to try and America’s overall health is sending a message that you aren’t concerned for the minorities of America. As the President of the united States, you shouldn’t only be concerned about the majority of America. Minorities are just as important in this country as everyone else in this country, and the fact that we have say statements like this when 2018 is right around the corner is disappointing.

If we’re going to grow as a country, we have to start putting people in office that are going to be beneficial to all Americans, not just straight white men.

Bans like these are only the beginning of something dangerous, and we have to start using our voices to try to stop it.